First time poster here, so thanks in advance for the help! Let me first start out by saying that I am using Verizon's DSL "Power" package and have had it since late May. The phone line I use for internet access is used exclusively for internet access, meaning there are no other telephones connected to any lines that utilize that telephone number. What I am about to describe is my first problem in this time period. Currently, I am on my work computer, as I am without internet access at home. Now, my problem... Last night I tried signing on to AOL IM and was unable to connect. It brought up red text at the top saying something to the effect of "unable to establish a connection" and gave me options to change my settings. So, then, I tried pulling up a bookmarked web page using Mozilla Firefox. Automatically, my window resized itself and a Verizon page (https://activate.verizon.net/launch/welcome) loaded. It gave me options to "activate my account", "configure an additional PC or reinstall software", or "reconnect to the internet because i reset or replaced my modem". Keep in mind that, just an hour and a half prior to this, I successfully used my wireless connection, and about an hour before that I successfully used the DSL on my desktop computer. I didn't touch the modem, didn't restart the computer, didn't uninstall any software, etc. And, all of the appropriate green lights were lit up on my gateway modem. So I tried the "reconnect to the internet.." option, which forced a 5 MB Verizon installer file download. It went through the process of configuring things and whatnot, but when it hit 25%, it stopped and brought up a lengthy error that begins as follows: The flow will not proceed due to Missing Hand-off Parameters: cpeupdate customertype AcctCategory service_provider It continues and fills up nearly a full page (when printed) of text, with each line including "value=". So I tried again, this time with IE. No luck. I tried restarting my computer and going over the process again. I also tried using the different options. Nothing worked. Within "My Network Places" it says I am connected and firewalled (though I did turn off my firewall, as instructed, when attempting to reinstall the software). I just don't understand it. I ran Semantic Virus scan and found nothing. I did the same with Ad-Aware and found nothing major. And I did the same with Spybot and, again, found nothing. The behavior almost seems like a virus, but my protection programs aren't picking up on it and my computer isn't really acting like anything else is wrong. Can someone help...please?? Thank you so much!

This sounds like an issue that needs to be taken up with your provider's support people. I suggest you call them ASAP.

I'm wondering why you have a dedicated phone line for DSL usage. Can you explain that? When you first started having difficulty, did you reset the modem to see if that fixed the problem? Have you tried that yet? I would start by resetting the modem, and rebooting the computer, then in your browser address bar, enter 192.168.1.1 and see if PPP is up. If not, try and connect and see what happens. "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown